The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-16
How Ballot-Box Was Taken from Its Custo-
dians by Armed Men, and Dewes Bolton
Killed While Raiding Ballot-Boxes.
Correspondence Incident to the Resig-
nation of Secretary Manning.
Contradiction Of the Story Of Republican Dis
sension Arising Out of the Election of
Senator HiScock-General Notes.
THE TEXAS OUTRAGEs.

THE TEXAS OUTRAGES.
A Ballot-Box Taken from It's Custodians by
Armed and Masked Men.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15-The investigation Of
the alleged political outrages in Washington
county, Texas was begun by the subcommittee
of the Senate committee on privileges and elec-
tions, this morning. The investigation commit
tee consists of Senator'S Evarts (chairmanl,
Teller Spooner, Pugh and Enstis. All were
present during the course OF the morn
ing session, but Senators Evarts and Pugh
were called away to attend the meeting
of the judiciary committee. Judge La
fayette Kirk county judge of Washing
ton county, Texas, and Lewis R. Bryan.
lawyer of Brenham, were present as counsel for
the defense, and F. D. Jordan, attorney OF
Brennan, was present to serve in the same ca
pacity for the prosecution
Marshall Booker, farmer, of Independence.
Washington county, Texas, aged twenty-six
years. an independent in politics, was sworn and
examined by Senator Spooner. The witness ac-
companed Col. c. P. Spann, OF the judges OF
elections on the Sd of last November, to Bren-
ham, taking the ballot-box from Lofts precinct.
They were stopped by three armed men, who
walked out from the roadside and said, Hold
up." Colonel Spann asked. 'Wbat does this
meanT One cf the men replied, 1--WE want the
ballot box" Mr.. Spann refused to give it up.
The leader of the armed men commanded his
companions to keep their arms aimed at the two
in the wagon, while ne approached the wagon
and took the ballot box and the tally-sheets.
The three were masked. and unknown to wit
Mv md ha wit
BRENNAN and reported to the authorities the
circumstances. Senator Eustis cross exam
ned the witness. In reply to his questions the
witness said the election at Lofts precinct was
quiet and orderly throughout
Colonel Spann was then sworn. He testified
that he is a Democrat and was clerk of election
at Lofts precinct There were lS9 votes cast,
156 of which were Republicans and thirty-three
| for the Peoples ticket The thirty three votes
we're cast by white men, The colored men voted
| solidly the Republican ticket The witnesses
| fathe. wa presiding Judge The witness started
to carry the box and two of the three tally Sheets
| the next day after the election, to the county
clerk at Brennan. He was stopped en- route by
| three armed and disguised men. The witness
! said "Of course you have the drop on me- The
| witness had to anticipate any such
thing until about 3 o'clock that afternoon.
when he heard that the negroes had murdered
Dewes Bolton in neighboring precinct. and
| that the ha.llot-box at Graball precinct where
there was a large colored majority, had been
destroyed. On oss-examination, the witness
said there were negro candidates on both tickets.
/ One ticket was straight Republican ticket and
the other a mixed ticket. There was no Demo
cratic ticket The witness had no knowledge as
| to which party was responsible for the capture
of the box. In answer to Senator Spooner, the
| witness said Washington county had usually
| gone Republican, since the war, though it had at
times gone Democratic. Thera was goodly col
ored majority in tho county. though the witness
could not say how large The Germans held the
balance of power. He had never known the
straight Democratic ticket to be successful dur
ing the last ten years until two years ago, when
the Republicans were split up
r. NJ. Jones. colored school teacher, twenty
| three years of age, sworn. He was clerk Of
the elections in Fluellyns voting precinct at the
last election. There were 159 votes cast The
voting went on very quietly during the day. A.
night. while the count was in progl ess, few
men entered the house One wore long rubber
coat, and was armed. They had handkerchiefs
tied over their faces. The witness was alarmed,
and could not tell how many there were. The
intruders presented pistol. and said either
hold up." or ''hands up" he could not tell
which. The witness ran out, and in going
butted the foremost man in the stomach. The
witness did not 60 back. He heard two shots.
He did not know what became of the ballot box.
Only 60 votes had been counted when the
count was interrupted though it had been in
progress since about o'clock. OF the 50, the
great majority were straight Republican. The
witness could not account for the delay In the
count. Dewes Bolton was killed there that
night The witness had heard that Polk Hill
colored) said he killed Bolton. To Mr.. Spoone-
the witness said Bolton one of the disguised
|, intruders, and had pistol in his hand when he
was shot Bottoms father was a candidate for
, Office, and his name both tickets. He
was, however, badly beaten. Sned Fielder
, (colored) was in the room whom the intruders
came. The witness did not see him have any
. arms. He has since been hanged. Adjourned
till TO- morrow.
MIR. MANNJNG's RESIGNATION.
Correspondence Between tho Retiring Secrc-
-